Golf practicing machine



Nov. 27, 1934. K. M. AwsoN GOLF PRACTIGING MACHINE Filedr. Feb. l2, 1954 Patented Nov. 27, 1934 UNITED.s'rATl-zsv GOLF PRACTICIN G MACHINE Kate Marion Lawson, Surbiton, England Application February 12, 1934, Serial No. 710,921 In Great Britain February 15, 1933 Claims.

This invention relates to golf-practicing appliances yof the kind in which a golf ball is arranged when struck to rotate with or about a horizontal spindle. 1f the ball is xed to one 5 end of an arm carried by the spindle and the spindle carries a counterbalance weight or arm, the appliance is of Very little practical value, because the effect is that of striking a dead weight several times the actual Weight of a golf ball.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an appliance in which conditions much more closely approximating to those encountered in actual play are produced. A further object is to provide a cheap but robust appliance', part of which may be sunk permanently into the ground while the other part may easily be placed in position when the appliance is to be used.

In appliances according to the invention the ball is mounted on a helical spring which rotates with or about a spindle. Such a spring, however, tends to swing to one side or the other if the ball is not truly struck, and according to the invention the ball and spring are constrained to rotate in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the spindle. This is preferably effected by providing two guide rings between which a collar or the like at the end Vof the spring moves.

The complete appliance preferably comprises a casing adapted to be sunk into the ground and having a detachable cover which is very slightly raised from the ground when placed in position on the casing. This cover may then carry the spindle in a depending bracket, so that by removing the cover all the operative parts are also removed and can be stored in a dry place when not in use. The cover may advantageously be provided with a rubber or other soft or resilient covering, so as to prevent damage to the club such as would occur if the cover were struck instead of the ball.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, one appliance constructed in accordance therewith will K now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section through and Figure 2 shows a plan of the appliance.

The appliance comprises a semi-cylindrical casing 1 adapted to be sunk in the ground and having an opening 2 at the bottom to permit rain water to escape. The casing is closed by a cover 3 having two depending brackets 4. Each of these is circular and has four radial arms 5. 'Ihe centre of each bracket contains ball bearings 6 in which runs a spindle 7 carrying a rectangular plate 8.

This plate serves as a seating and point of attachment for a helical spring 9 and a balance weight 10. At the top of the helical spring is fixed a collar 11, which also serves as a socket into which a solid rubber ball 12Vis fixed by means 60 of a counter-sunk cap 13 that screws over a spindle passing upwards through the socket 11 and ball 12. The circular arms 14 of the bracket 4 constitute guides between which the collar 11 moves. f

The cover 3 is formed with an opening 15 so as to allow the ball l2 and spring 9 to rotate freely with the spindle 7. The cover is also provided with a rubber covering 16, so that if the ball should not be truly struck the club will not be damaged by coming into contact with the metal part of the cover.

`In some instances an indicator may be `provided to show the distance-which the ball would have travelled if it had been played on the golf course in the usual way. An indicator in the form of a revolution counter is shown in Figures 1 and 2 at 17, this indicator including a star Wheel 18 engaged by a pin 19 projecting from the collar 11. It will of course be clear that any suitable form of indicator may be used, and that when a revolution counter is used, it may be of the type that will re-set itself to the zero position on the movement of a push button or the like.

I claim:

1. In a golf-practicing appliance, the combination of a helical spring means mounting the spring for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the spring axis, a ball carried by said spring and means other than the mounting means for constraining said ball and spring to rotate substantially in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation.

2. In a golf-practicing appliance, the combination of a spindle, ahelical spring mounted thereon and extending radially therefrom, a ball carried by said spring, and means other than the spindle for constraining said ball and spring to rotate in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of said spindle.

3. In a golf-practicing appliance, the combination of a helical spring mounted on and rotatable about a shaft whose axis is perpendicular to the spring axis, a ball carried by said spring, and guide rings arranged to co-operate with said spring and to constrain said spring and ball to rotate substantially in a plane perpendicular to the shaft.

other than the spindle for constraining said ball and spring to rotate in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of said spindle.

5. In a golf-practicing appliance, the combination claimed in claim 4, wherein said constraining means comprises two guide rings arranged to co-operate with said spring.

KATE MARION LAWSON.

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